Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-07-09
CORRESPONDENCE
ADJUSTMENTS.
Cards, Dice, Billiards, Dancing, &c.

| Inc Work or the CHRISTIAN cnufcn III
| the world, out of which it is called, is
definite one, namely: To bear wit
ness to Christ "that men may receive
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance
among them which are sanctified by
faith" 1t is not therefore to reform
men. That will only be accomplished
when the Lord Jesus comes to re-
sumo the 'Kingdom- of Heaven work,
which was suspended at the time of
his rejection by his earthly people. 1t
is well understood, however, that in the
meantime the "Kingdom Of God," ex-
tending over all, is carrying forward all
earthly affairs in the wake of the
Church. With this earthly work the
Church has nothing to do. Its hands
and heart should be full of its legit-
innate and specific work of bearing
testimony to Christ. Ged, in his
kingdom over all, will take care of
earthly affairs including what is prop
erly known as the mere protesting
Church. as well as the religious world.
The Holy Spirit though will not fail to
complete the work which the Lord set
in motion after his rejection by his
people, of witnessing Christ, by the
Church, to the Gentle world, in order
to take out of it ''a people to his
name. Acts XIV, IA. This work,
therefore, of reforming the world by
! the Church is not the looking of the
| Church to the bright and Morning
Star" REV. xxi, 16. To this turning
away of the Church from its specific
work and duty is very much due the
popular craze of modern ethical
culture. And if one did not know
that man is by nature a fool, and by
nature the human "heart is enmity to
God" and "that which is born of the
anything else, it would be astonishing
that so many are being gulled by
"clubs," ETC., being formed in so many
places to improve society, reform the
young, &C., sc. The cry of the
world and the protesting church is
1--WE must have recreation after the
tolls Of the day; we must give the
people amusement" Hence the
Church and the world are clasping
hands in running theatres, dances,
billiards, dice, cards, &c.
Is it any wonder that the craze for
exhibition of ''tights," the "Black
Crook" gambling, recreation and
amusements which mean nothing else
than a want of love for home and re-
gard for home restraints and attrac
tions, has never before reached the
extent that it has to-day. 1t is one of
the characteristics Of the day. "For
men shall be lovers of pleasure more
than lovers of God ; having q form of
godliness but denying the power
thereof. - Tim. iii, 3. 6.
The argument ls-thcse are no worse
than a great many others, and a great
| deal better than many others. They
forget that two wrongs never make q
right. They argue as though pursuit
of pleasure were the end for which
they were created, and were not re-
quired to have serious thoughts about
God, eternity, and salvation.
These amusements, games, and Gin
nocent recreations" as they are called,
have all been tried by the religious
world for the reformation Of the world,
(Which is under condemnation and just
waiting to be executed), but the testi-
mony of the universal church is against
| them.
| confne myself in this communica-
ton to one topic-dancing.
AlOCII lDtJlllCS3 oii tilt oplIll .
injunction to ''aJStajn from all ap-
pearaace Of ecU' says ga great variety
Of subjects such as those pertaining to
dress, samusements, the opera. the ball
room, games of chance, come under
this general class; which, though on
the supposition that they cannot be
proved TO be in themselves positively
wrong or forbidden, have much the APP
pearance of evil, and will be so inter-
preted."
Mathew Henry says:"We should alb
stain from all appearance of evil. He
wl.o avoids not the approaches to sin
will not long abstain from the COM
mission of sin. A true child of God
will keep on the safe side of every
question that involves duty, and when
convinced that there is the appearance
of evil, he will abstain from it,"
DR.. Chalmers, in commenting on this
same text, says: "The enormities of
the heathcn world of which we read in
the New Testament and profane au-
thors, were as little scandalous then as
amusements at our day from which all
godliness is excluded. They are utter
ly antipodes with the soul and habit of
one who is aspiring after Immortality.
And may reflect the injury back on
those around him.
A distinguished Methodist minister
in an" Appeal to all Christians" says:
"All who desire to continue in fell
lowship of our churches are required
to abstain from all diversions that can
not be used in the name of the Lord.
And this has always been interpreted
as prohibiting members from attending
what are commonly called places of
amusement" The Church Union says:
"Whenever amusements become de-
moralized it is better to get new ones
than to put old ones in hospitals"
1.-The stage. and cards, and dice, and
billiards, which were but gambling
tools in their origin, as well rs the
dance, even under the refined dissipa-
ton of God-forsallen modern people,
are past redemption"
The enactment of the General AS
sembly of the Presbyterian church on
the 139th question of the Larger
Catechism is--"The spirit of the pro
hibition extends to all kindred amuse-
ments dancing and stage plays which
are calculated to awaken thoughts and
feelings inconsistent with the Com
mandents.n There are many pleasures
and nrapticec 1eamad inuocant and